Cricket: Taylor ditches his cast

New Zealand cricket captain Ross Taylor's recovery from a broken left forearm is almost complete.

Taylor completed a pain-free batting net on Friday at his new Indian Premier League franchise, the Delhi Daredevils. He is expected to be available for Tuesday morning's match away against the Mumbai Indians.

Taylor's arm is free of a cast but still strapped after a Morne Morkel delivery broke it during the final test against South Africa in Wellington. Morkel is now a Delhi team-mate, as is fellow New Zealander Doug Bracewell.

The stitches from Taylor's surgery were taken out last week. Despite the injury, Taylor has maintained his fitness.

His contract is understood to be US$1.1 million per annum after he transferred from the Rajasthan Royals.